This Morning viewers fume over claims children are addicted to technology and blame the parents

FURIOUS This Morning viewers took to Twitter today to blast parents who claim their children are addicted to modern technology.

The show featured a survey which suggested many kids as young as four fly into violent rages when their gadgets are taken away, but many fans are convinced these "withdrawal symptoms" are just ordinary childhood temper tantrums.

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This Morning unveiled a survey about the technology habits of the nation's kidsCredit: ITV

Hosts Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes presented the segment today and they were joined by parent Fiona and her partner James, and addiction expert Mandy Saligari.

The survey revealed that 27 per cent of four to 14 year olds became verbally abusive when their parents tried to take the technology away.

Mandy insisted this is a common problem, and she is often approached by parents who are worried about thei kids' addiction to technology.

She said: "I work in addictions... one of the most common questions I get from parents is about tehcnology... kids as young as four, five six [are addicted]...

"Parents are very short of time. they resort to technology as a babysitter..."

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Mandy insisted kids are in the grip of a serious addiction and may suffer withdrawal symptomsCredit: ITV

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'I don't believe him'

James Kent revealed his little boy Joe can't sleep if he has now been allowed to play his Xbox that day, and Fiona revealed the youngster had smashed a television and put his fist through a wall in a fit of anger over the console.

She added: "When he was so lose, that's when the temper would come - he was never aggressive to us...

"But he had a brand new telly for Christmas and because of his temper, he put his fist through the telly and the bedroom wall."

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Fiona and James opened up about their own experiences with child tech addictionCredit: ITV

However, the story prompted little sympathy among viewers.

Many claimed that parents who rely on gadgets like mobile phones, tablets and video games to keep their kids occupied deserve to suffer the consequences.

They flocked to Twitter to debate the subject and one wrote: "@itvthismorning Parents need to BE THE PARENTS. Control your kids. Don't let them control you! #TechAddiction."

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Ruth and Eamonn hosted a fierce debate on This MorningCredit: ITV

Another tweeted: "This is parents blaming technology rather than themselves. If you don't like technology, simulate your child yourself. #TechAddiction."

One fuming viewer wrote: "@itvthismorning Whoever gives their child a smartphone at 4 and doesn't limit their tech time deserve an angry child. #TechAddiction..."

Many also suggested that technology addiction is not a real condition, insisting the angry outbursts are just temper tantrums.

Onetweeted: "I used to throw an absolute fit when I got things taken off me as a kid. It's called having a tantrum it's not new or special #techaddiction."

Another viewer added: "I can imagine I would have been annoyed if my parents tried to take my phone away at 14... That's not a #TechAddiction."